Controversy over corps member’s death in Kano

THE real cause of the death of 26-year-old Abbas Lawal, a youth corps member serving in Kano State, may continue to be shrouded in controversy for some time to come.

While the general belief among his friends and colleagues is that Abbas lost his life to dreaded cholera, a representative of NYSC in the state maintained that the young man died during a brief but undisclosed illness.

Abbas’ untimely death on February 13 marked the end of a long time dream and aspiration for a better future.

According to sources, Abbas was rushed to the hospital by his friends after he excreted and vomited non-stop for a long time. But it was too late, as he later died at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Kano despite a strong battle by doctors to save his life.

It will be recalled that The Nation had earlier reported that cases of cholera were on the rise in Kano.

Abbas, an indigene of Kaduna, studied Computer Science at the Federal University of Technology, Minna. He was until his death observing his primary assignment at Government Girls’ College, Kano, where he served as the only computer instructor.

According to his close friends, Abbas was hale and hearty a day before his death, and betrayed no sign that death might be lurking in the corner. But all that changed in the night when he allegedly complained of stomach ache.

Sensing trouble, the friends rushed him to the hospital where doctors allegedly diagnosed cholera as the cause of his illness.

“It was a surprise to all of us in the lodge. Although Abbas complained that he was not feeling fine that morning, but it did not look like anything serious. We all played and took photographs before we departed for the Federal Secretariat for the passing out ceremony. He told me that he had visited the toilet for more than seven times before day broke,” Mathias David, one of his roommates, said.

He lamented that nurses at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, a government-owned hospital, gave Abbas the sugar and salt solution after he was rushed there at about 12.15pm.

“We rushed Abbas to the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital after he complained of stomach ache. But there was no doctor to attend to him, so the nurses only gave him the sugar and salt solution. He was later transferred to the IDH where he died in the evening,” David stated.

The Nation further gathered that Abbas’ corpse was taken to Kaduna the same night he died as demanded by the father in company of two NYSC staff and six corps members.

However, while most of his colleagues are blaming cholera for his death, the management of the National Youth Service Corps NYSC in Kano is insisting that Abbas Lawal died during a brief illness.

When contacted, NYSC Coordinator in Kano State, Mr. Abdulrasheed Sanusi, told journalists that Abbas Lawal was one of the 37 corps members serving at Government Girls’ College.

He said Abbas Lawal did not die of cholera or any infectious disease, noting that the deceased died of natural cause after a brief illness.

When asked about the details of the medical report received from the hospital, the coordinator said he had not collected any report from the hospital.

“The corps member in question was sick and taken to the hospital. The time was around noon on Thursday. Unfortunately, he died in the evening of the same day.

“We don’t know the cause of death yet because we have not collected the medical report. However, we have informed the parents of his death, and his remains were taken to Kaduna as requested by the father.

“The truth is that we could not collect the medical report because of the very busy activities of the day. And don’t forget that we cannot afford not to inform the parents of the death.”

However, Abbas’ father, Malam Abbas Abubakar, said: “I have left everything to God. I was told my son died on Thursday evening and I asked them to bring his corpse to Kaduna that same night. The NYSC told me that he died of cholera. I believe it is time, and I have left everything to God,” Mallam Abubakar said.

Also speaking, a very senior medical officer at the IDH, Kano, confirmed to The Nation that Abbas Lawal suffered from acute diarrhea and vomiting, which he said were symptoms of cholera.

Before the unfortunate incident, Kano State Commissioner of Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, had stressed the need for the people to be extra-vigilant against the dreaded disease in the state.

While giving the warning, which came against the backdrop of the outbreak of cholera in neighbouring states, Yusuf said that the government is doing its best to ensure the safety of its citizenry by providing potable water and regular sanitary activities in the state.